Combined snow-mower

ABSTRACT

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a snow-moe structure which can be used for cutting grass during one season of the year and for removing snow during another season of the year. The snow-moe includes a wheeled power housing having spaced apart wheels supported at the ends of the axle shafts secured to the housing and upon which is secured a power unit having a power drive member extending forwardly therefrom to engage one of a plurality of adapter units to be connected to and driven by the power housing. In one instance the adapter unit can take the form of a snow blower which has an elongated channel receiving member to be fastened to the wheeled power housing and fixedly secured thereto by vertical bolts passing through the channel and engaging the adapter unit. In another form, the adapter can be a rotary lawn mower which is secured to the power drive unit substantially in the same manner, i.e., having an elongated channel member engaging the channel of the wheeled power housing and secured thereto with vertical depending bolts or the like. The engine drive shaft is in a horizontal plane and the adapter unit has a splined coupling shaft also positioned in a horizontal plane to be connected with a power coupling unit extending from the horizontal drive shaft of the power drive unit.

United States Patent 1 Williams May 13, 1975 1 1 COMBINED SNOW-MOWER [76] Inventor: Larry W. Williams, 4507 S.

Woodward, Downers Grove, 111. 60515 22 Filed: June 12, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 369,288

[52] US. Cl. 37/43 L; 37/53 [51] Int. Cl E0lh 5/09 [58] Field of Search 37/43 R, 43 A-43 L, 37/53 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673,457 6/1928 Jensen 37/43 G 2,517,405 8/1950 Moss 37/43 L 2,566,724 9/1951 Heil 37/43 E 2,636,568 4/1953 Rutishauser 37/43 R 2,695,071 11/1954 l-lupp 37/43 B 2,735,199 2/1956 Wanner et al.... 37/43 E 3,021,620 2/1962 Rosenthal 37/43 E 3,103,077 9/1963 Bennett 37/43 L 3,383,927 5/1968 Suchy 37/43 D 3,468,041 9/1969 Mattson et a1. 37/43 E 3,774,321 11/1973 David 37/43 L Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Assistant ExaminerE. H. Eickholt Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a snow-moe structure which can be used for cutting grass during one season of the year and for removing snow during another season of the year. The snow-moe includes a wheeled power housing having spaced apart wheels supported at the ends of the axle shafts secured to the housing and upon which is secured a power unit having a power drive member extending forwardly therefrom to engage one of a plurality of adapter units to be connected to and driven by the power housing. In one instance the adapter unit can take the form of a snow blower which has an elongated channel receiving member to be fastened to the wheeled power housing and fixedly secured thereto by vertical bolts passing through the channel and engaging the adapter unit. In another form, the adapter can be a rotary lawn mower which is secured to the power drive unit substantially in the same manner, i.e., having an elongated channel member engaging the channel of the wheeled power housing and secured thereto with vertical depending bolts or the like. The engine drive shaft is in a horizontal plane and the adapter unit has a splined coupling shaft also positioned in a horizontal plane to be connected with a power coupling unit extending from the horizontal drive shaft of the power drive unit.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COMBINED SNOW-MOWER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to improvements in structures and apparatus used primarily in the field of domestic maintenance apparatus, and more particularly to a combination of such structures that provide substantial useful improvements over existing snow blowers and grass cutters that are commonly used as domestic maintenance apparatus. However, it will be understood that while this invention is directed particularly to devices used in the field of domestic maintenance apparatus, the specific device disclosed herein can be used in other allied fields where a multiplicity of work performing units can be drivingly coupled to a single power drive unit.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore people engaged in the maintenance of domestic dwelling surroundings, such as lawns and sidewalks, have had the cumbersome task of purchasing, maintaining and storing two separate pieces of equipment for such tasks as cutting lawns and removing snow from sidewalks about their premises. The overall size of such apparatus is of a particular interest to persons having dwellings of relatively small area, thus substantially reducing the amount of storage space for such lawn mowing and snow removal apparatus.

To overcome the necessity of having a separate piece of equipment for each separate task to be performed about the premises, combination lawn mowers and snow removers have been devised to allow the user a single apparatus. However, such prior art devices heretofore utilized substantially favored the lawn mower apparatus in that snow removal units are devised as add-on or adapter units to existing lawn mowers. Therefore during winter months, when movement about sidewalks is difficult enough without added restrictions, a user is required to operate a snow removal machine which still has a major portion thereof equipped with grass cutting apparatus. This is inefficient and impractical.

For example, one such prior art snow removal and grass cutting structure utilized a funnel attachment secured to the grass cutter to scoop up snow and direct it rearwardly into a self-driven snow thrower which is fastened to the shaft to which the grass cutting blade was previously fastened. The type of coupling is relatively complicated and requires considerable time and effort to fasten the snow blower to the lawn mowing unit.

Still another prior art structure utilized placing a U- shaped scoop under the grass cutter to direct snow through the scoop and into the area wherein the grass cutting blades originally were housed. The grass cutting blades in this instance are replaced by a paddle wheel which acted as a snow thrower as the snow is directed rearwardly. Here again the total structure is rather cumbersome and heavy because it utilizes substantially entirely the grass cutting components for removing the snow.

These are but a few of the typical approaches of combining a snow blower and a grass cutter in a single structure. However, these prior-art structures all are deficient in that they require substantial amounts of set up time and dexterity on the part of the user to convert the apparatus from one use to another. Furthermore,

snow blower and grass cutter combinations heretofore provided for use in the field of domestic maintenance about the premises of individual homes or large apartment dwellings, and other areas, have been relatively expensive and complicated to manufacture and/or operate over relatively long periods of time with sufficient reliability to warrant their initial cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitations that are inherent in prior art snow blowing grass cutter combination units by completely eliminating the need of transporting substantial portions of a grass cutter when the unit is used as a snow blower, and substantially completely eliminating the need of transporting snow blower portions when the unit is used as a grass cutter.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a snow blower and grass cutter structure which has a wheeled power housing substantially completely independent of the adapter unit which is to be fastened thereto for performing the particular task intended. The wheeled power housing has a channel extending substantially transversely of the housing to receive a channel receiving portion of the adapter and is fastened to the power housing by vertically depending fasteners, such as bolts, or the like.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of an adapter unit for cutting grass which has a right angle gear coupling connection formed therein for transmitting power from a horizontal shaft at the wheeled power housing to a vertical depending shaft upon which is secured the rotating blade within the mower adapter. This right angle gear coupling can take the form of a pair of angled meshing gears or a twisted belt and pulley arrangement or the like.

Briefly, the snow blower and lawn mower structure of this invention, i.e., the snow-moe, is formed substantially of a conventional snow blower unit with an interchangeable rotary blade lawn mower unit. The interchangeable feature of this novel combination of structural elements enables the home owner to use the same motor and wheeled support housing for both plowing snow during the winter months when it is necessary to clear walks and driveways and the like, and for cutting grass during the summer months. Because this structural combination of elements incorporates two separate adapter units for cooperation with a single power drive unit it has'the distinct advantage of substantially reducing the amount of storage space, and cost heretofore encountered in separate snow blower and lawn mower units. Particularly of interest is that the retail price of this machine is substantially less than the retail price of separate machines to cut grass and remove snow as well as the price of other combined machines.

The combination of elements incorporated to provide the snow blower and grass cutter of this invention utilizes a power drive unit having an output shaft oriented in a horizontal position. Extending from the horizontal drive shaft is a power drive unit, which may be a belt or chain device, extending forwardly of the engine. The snow blower or lawn mower unit includes a matching coupling device, either a splined shaft to engage a splined gear, or vice versa, so that the power can be transmitted from the engine to the snow scoop or rotating blade of the lawn mower which ever is used. The housing utilized for the lawn mower has, in addition to other features, adjustable wheels on the sides thereof substantially to correspond to the adjustable wheels of the power drive unit so that the overall height of the blade above grass being out can be set to a desired level.

Among the specific features set forth hereinabove still further features of this invention will be more fully realized and understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompa nying drawings wherein the like reference numerals throughout the various views of the drawings are intended to designate similar elements or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken apart perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and illustrates a separate wheeled power housing readily adapted to connect with either one of two adapter units, i.e., such as a snow thrower or a grass cutter;

FIG. 2 is an elevational side fragmentary broken apart view of the structure of FIG. 1 showing the relative arrangement of the channel member of the wheeled power housing and the elongated channel receiving member of the adapter unit;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of this invention corresponding substantially to the structure shown in the FIG. 2 but with the wheeled power housing and the adapter unit shown in an assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the wheeled power housing and adapter unit of FIG. 3 showing the relative arrangement of the drive coupling member extending from the engine of the wheeled power housing to engage with the adapter unit; and

FIG. 5 illustrates several gear means by which the direction of power transmission from a horizontal output shaft of the power unit is converted to a vertical depending shaft of the grass cutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 there is seen an apparatus readily adapted for use in cutting grass during one season of the year and for use in removing snow during another season of the year, said apparatus being designated generally be reference numeral 10. A compact lightweight wheeled power housing 12 is provided for receiving a pair of spaced apart wheel members 13 and 14 secured to the ends of axle shafts 16 extending transversely of the housing. A power drive unit is mounted on top of the housing and has a drive coupling member 17 extending forwardly therefrom to terminate at a point substantially in alignment with a splined shaft extending from either one of a pair of adapter units to be connected thereto. Formed in the forward most portion of the lower end of the housing 12 is a channel 18 extending transversely thereof. The channel 18 is formed in the housing so as to cause the drive shaft extending from the power unit to be in accessible registry with the drive coupling member 17 when fastened thereto.

In accordance with this invention the single wheeled power housing 12 is used to operatively control either one of a pair of adapter units 20 or 22, they being a snow blower and grass cutter, respectively. The snow blower 20 has an elongated channel engaging strip member 24 formed at the rear portion thereof and arranged to be a slide fit in the channel 18. The forward most portion of the snow blower 20 includes snow gathering apparatus 26, here shown only by way of exam- 5 ple, it being understood that any snow thrower or snow gathering device can be used..For example, a worm gear or paddle wheel device may be used if desired. Extending transversely of the housing of the snow blower 20 is a splined shaft 28 and is arranged for substantial 10 illustrated or described but which will be understoodto be any one of the plurality of already well known splined gears used in the various fields of art. For exam.- ple, such splined gears can be of the type used. in motor vehicles or machinery tools or the like. When the snow blower 20 is fastened to the wheeled power housing 12 the elongated channel engaging strip member 24 is inserted into and slid transverselyalong the channel 18, so as to cause the splined shaft28 to couple with the 20 splined gear within the driving coupling member 17.

The snowblower unit 20 is then substantially perma.

members 32 and 33 secured to the ends of the top wall 30 and which may include varyingsupport members for the snow gathering structure 26. The snow throwing nozzle member 31 preferably is rotatively secured to 35 the top wall 30, at a fasteningline 36 thereof so that the direction which snow is ejected from the unit can be altered to either side of the desired cleared path. The rotating coupling of the snow throwing nozzle 31 to the top wall 30 of the snow blower unit 20 can take any desired form known in the art.

The lawn mower unit 22 also includes an elongated channel engaging strip member 36 substantially identical in configuration with the elongated channel engaging strip member 24 of the snow blower 20. Therefore when the snow blower 20 is removed from the wheeled power housing 12 the lawn mower unit 22 can be secured thereto in the same manner. That is, the lawn mower unit 22 will be secured to the wheeled power housing 12 by the same bolts 29 which were used to fasten the snow blower 20.

The lawn mower unit 22 includes a right angle gear coupling structure designated generally by reference numeral 38 which includes a splined shaft 39 extending transversely outwardly of the housing 22 to engage a correspondingly splined gear within the drive coupling members 17. In this instance the splined shaft 39 is secured to a beviled gear 40, which, in turn, meshes with a correspondingly arranged beviled gear 41 which has a pulley secured to the lower end thereof. A belt or other drive device is coupled to the pulley, this being designated generally by reference numeral 42, and is wrapped about a second pulley 43secured to a vertical depending shaft located substantially centrally within the lawn mower housing 22. This provides means for changing the direction of power drive from horizontal to vertical when a lawn mower structure is used with the wheeled power housing 12.

alignment with a splined gear, not herein particularly includes a pair of spacedapart depending side wall For more details of the structure of the right angle drive unit reference is now made to FIG. 5 whichshows the beviled gear 40 engaging the correspondingly shaped beviled gear 41. A shaft 45 extends downwardly of the gear 41 and has secured thereto a pulley 46 about which is wrapped the belt 42. While a particular structure is illustrated for changin'g tlie -direction of power drive from horizontal to vertical it will be understood that other means may be incorpor'atedsuch as a transmission drive box or a twistedpulleyor the like.

For a better understanding of the novelstruct ural aspects of this invention reference is now made toFlGS. 2, 3, and 4 which illustrate the disassembly, assembly, and top view of the structure, respectively when used as a snow blower. ln FIGS. 2 and 3 the horizontal output shaft of the power drive unit is designated generally by reference numeral 50 and may include a gear or pulley fastened thereto to receive a drive device 51, which may be a pulley or cane or the like. In the illustrated embodiment the drive device 51 is a chain which passes through a shielded passage in the drive coupling member 17 and is wrapped about a splined gear 52 which has the central portion thereof splined to receive one or the other of the splined shafts 28 or 39 of the snow blower or grass cutter, respectively. As seen in FIG. 3 the mounting bolts 29 are shown extending completely through the upper and lower portions of the channel 18 and through the elongated channel engaging strip member 24 to receive at the lower most portion thereof nuts 53. While in the alternative the lower channel portion of the channel 18 can have a threaded opening formed therein so that the threaded portion 29a of the bolt 29 can be fastened directly to the channel. Shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the drive connection between the snow gathering and throwing structure 26 and the splined shaft 28. Here a gear member 54 is coupled to the shaft 28, and engages a correspondingly meshed gear structure 56 drivingly coupled to the snow blowing or removal unit 26.

As best seen in FIG. 4 the drive coupling member 17 is located at the side most portion of the structure and the horizontal output shaft 50 is shown extending transversely of the engine a distance sufficient to clear the width of the housing base 12. However, it will be understood that other coupling structures can be incorpo rated, for example the shaft 50 can be shortened and the drive coupling member 17 moved over the housing 12 by providing a slot or notch therein to receive the drive coupling member 17.

The power drive unit 15 is of a conventional structural type including a gas tank or gas supply container 60 mounted to the upper portion of a single cylinder engine 61, preferably of the air cooled type, and which may include air filter and carborator devices 62 and 63, respectively. By so providing a structure as set forth herein minimum expense and quality oil seals are required about the output shaft of the engine 15 as the output shaft is at all times maintained in a horizontal condition. This therefore completely eliminates the problems inherent in rotary lawn mowers which have vertical drive shafts extending downwardly from the motor and to which are secured the grass cutting blades. These devices generally require expensive oil seals about the shaft to prevent oil leakage which may result due to prolonged vibration and wear.

While several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated herein with the particular details it will be understoodthatother. embodiments of the invention is hooked in position.

It is to be understood that the forms of this invention herein'shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that this invention is not to belimited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in the specification as various changes in details of construction as to shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention, or the scope of the claims attached hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. An apparatus comprising in combination:

a wheeled power housing including a pair of spaced apart wheel means supported at the ends of axle shaft members secured to and extending from said wheeled power housing, an engine mounted to the upper portion of said housing, said engine having a drive shaft extending horizontally therefrom, a drive coupling member extending from the engine, said drive coupling member including a shielded passage, a power train means connected between the drive shaft of said engine and an output end of said drive coupling member, said output end including a splined gear, a channel formed in said wheeled power housing and positioned within the said housing so as to be in accessible registry with said drive coupling member; and

an adapter unit to be secured to said wheeled power housing by means secured to said channel formed in said wheeled power housing, and driven therefrom by coupling with said drive coupling member, said adapter unit including an elongated channel engaging strip means which extends from side to side of the adapter unit an extent corresponding substantially to the spacing between said wheel means, a working member associated with said adapter unit including a splined shaft arranged for engagement with a splined gear at the output end of said drive coupling member when said adapter unit is inserted into said channel formed in said wheeled power housing thereby drivingly connecting said adapter unit to said wheeled power housing.

2. An apparatus comprising, in combination:

a wheeled power housing including a pair of spaced apart wheel means supported at the ends of axle shaft members secured to and extending from said wheeled power housing, a power drive unit mounted to the upper portion of said housing, said power drive unit having a drive coupling member extending therefrom, a channel formed in said wheeled power housing and positioned within the said housing so as to be in accessible registry with said drive coupling member; and

a rotary lawn mower adapter unit to be secured to said wheeled power housing by means secured to said channel formed in said wheeled power housing, and driven therefrom by coupling with said drive coupling member, said adapter unit including an elongated channel engaging strip means which extends from side to side of the adapter unit an extent corresponding substantially to the spacing between said wheel means, a mower housing, a vertihorizontal shaft to said vertical shaft within said mower housing thereby providinga power train between said splined shaft, which engages said wheeled power housing, and the vertical shaft, when said elongated channel engaging strip means is slideably inserted into said channel formed in said wheeled power housing, thereby drivingly con- 3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the drive coupling between said vertical shaft and said second gear includes a pulley formed on said vertical shaft connected to a splined shaft extending horizontally and on said second gear, and a belt connected between of said mower housing, a second gear engaged with said pulleys on said vertical shaft and on said second said first gear and including angled gear teeth to gear.

cal shaft extending downwardly of said mower 10 housing and receiving at the lower most end thereof a rotary blade for cutting grass, a first gear provide a right angle gear connection from said 

1. An apparatus comprising in combination: a wheeled power housing including a pair of spaced apart wheel means supported at the ends of axle shaft members secured to and extending from said wheeled power housing, an engine mounted to the upper portion of said housing, said engine having a drive shaft extending horizontally therefrom, a drive coupling member extending from the engine, said drive coupling member including a shielded passage, a power train means connected between the drive shaft of said engine and an output end of said drive coupling member, said output end including a splined gear, a channel formed in said wheeled power housing and positioned within the said housing so as to be in accessible registry with said drive coupling member; and an adapter unit to be secured to said wheeled power housing by means secured to said channel formed in said wheeled power housing, and driven therefrom by coupling with said drive coupling member, said adapter unit including an elongated channel engaging strip means which extends from side to side of the adapter unit an extent corresponding substantially to the spacing between said wheel means, a working member associated with said adapter unit including a splined shaft arranged for engagement with a splined gear at the output end of said drive coupling member when said adapter unit is inserted into said channel formed in said wheeled power housing thereby drivingly connecting said adapter unit to said wheeled power housing.
 2. An apparatus comprising, in combination: a wheeled power housing including a pair of spaced apart wheel means supported at the ends of axle shaft members secured to and extending from said wheeled power housing, a power drive unit mounted to the upper portion of said housing, said power drive unit having a drive coupling member extending therefrom, a channel formed in said wheeled power housing and positioned within the said housing so as to be in accessible registry with said drive coupling member; and a rotary lawn mower adapter unit to be secured to said wheeled power housing by means secured to said channel formed in said wheeled power housing, and driven therefrom by coupling with said drive coupling member, said adapter unit including an elongated channel engaging strip means which extends from side to side of the adapter unit an extent corresponding substantially to the spacing between said wheel means, a mower housing, a vertical shaft extending downwardly of said mower housing and receiving at the lower most end thereof a rotary blade for cutting grass, a first gear connected to a splined shaft extending horizontally of said mower housing, a second gear engaged with said first gear and including angled gear teeth to provide a right angle gear connection from said horizontal shaft to said vertical shaft within said mower housing thereby providing a power train between said splined shaft, which engages said wheeled power housing, and the vertical shaft, when said elongated channel engaging strip means is slideably inserted into said channel formed in said wheeled power housing, thereby drivingly connecting said rotary lawn mower adapter unit to said wheeled power housing.
 3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the drive coupling between said vertical shaft and said second gear includes a pulley formed on said vertical shaft and on said second gear, and a belt connected between said pulleys on said vertical shaft and on said second gear. 